**Updated--Course Syllabus for History 075—U.S. History to 1877

 

 

Fall 2004                                                                      Ginette Aley, Instructor

(crn 3627) / MWF 9-9:50am, 116 Medbury                     Office: 224 Meredith / Phone: 271-2136 

(crn 4543) / TR 11am-1215, 102 Meredith                       Office Hrs: MW 10-11am, TR 12:30-2:30, or by apt

 

Required Reading List:

Ayers, Edward.  American Passages Vol. 1: To 1877 (main text)

Binder, F. and David Reimers.  The Way We Lived Vol. 1: To 1877

Hollitz, John and A. James Fuller.  Contending Voices Vol. 1 : To 1877

 

Course Description, Goals, and Objectives:

In this course we will consider the history of the United States from pre-contact with the native peoples to the Reconstruction era by way of themes, experiences, and perspectives, paying particular attention to the fundamental importance of America’s rural and frontier past.  Another objective is to cause us to continually consider the question:  How did Americans experience this period in our history?  As we do this we must always try to differentiate these experiences by such factors as race, gender, age, ethnicity, and region.  In other words, the American experience has not been a universal one, and it is our job to identify the differences and then try to understand why this has been so.  Throughout the readings and lectures, it is my hope that you will develop and pursue one of the most crucial tools that you can acquire in college—critical thinking.  Don’t just read…question, contemplate, challenge, work-through, and open your mind to learning.  College is a rare opportunity in your lifetime.

 

Readings:

Readings are assigned each week on the attached schedule and should be done for the week assigned.  You will note that the amount varies so please plan your study time accordingly.  I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to keep up with your readings—and how easy it will be to fall behind and get frustrated.  Time management and consistency are additional crucial tools to begin honing while now in college. They will serve you well later.  It goes without saying that your learning is enhanced by also taking (and frequently reviewing) notes as you read.

 

What to take notes on in your reading?  You will find that memorizing dates is less important than learning the material by understanding the topics themselves and then their places in time.

 

Course Web Site and Course Web Links:

The course web site for History 075 will be:  http://www.drake.edu/artsci/faculty/galey/hist075.htm (it will be set up soon) I strongly encourage the class to check it periodically for additional information.  For example, modifications to the reading schedule as well as exam tips and sample questions will be posted to the site to assist you in doing well in this course.

 

Assignments and Grading;

There will be 3 exams given during the semester.  Tentative exam dates are on the Reading Schedule below as is the critical paper due date.  These will be discussed more in class.  Your class attendance is always assumed.

Grading Scale:

A 92-100%

B 82-91%

C 70-81%

D 62-69%

 

I do not like giving make-up exams and will only do so under the most dire of circumstances.  Make-up exams are usually only be given within 24 hrs. of your scheduled exam.  Otherwise, you will need to re-take this exam at the very end of the semester, on Fri. Dec. 10th.

 

Grade Distribution:

60%     3 essay and ids exams. 

40%     a critical “first-hand” paper, about 8 pages in length, that is based upon the primary source documents found in your supplemental readings (the Binder and Hollitz books) and others that you may add in which you will explore the some aspect of the American experience during the period of our class.  This will be discussed more fully in class.

 

**Readings, lecture topics, and exam dates are subject to modification at the instructor’s discretion.

 

**The Final Exams for my 2 sections of Hist 075 are:

for the 9am MWF section—the final is Tues. Dec. 14, 2-3:30pm

for the 11am TR section—the final is Tues. Dec. 14, 4-5:50pm

 

**Academic integrity policies will be vigorously upheld in this course—no form of cheating or dishonesty will be tolerated.

 

**If you need an academic accommodation, please let me know as soon as possible.

 

Suggested (strongly encouraged) Reading Schedule:

Fall 2004, Weeks 1-16

 

(Exam and due dates are in bold print)

 

Week 1 (Aug. 23)

 

TOPIC 1: CONTACT, CONFLICT, & EXCHANGE IN THE ATLANTIC WORLD

            -Ayers, Chapt. 1

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 1

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 1

 

Week 2 (Aug. 30)

 

TOPIC 2: COLONIZATION OF NORTH AMERICA, 1590-1675

          -Ayers, Chapt. 2

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 2, 3

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 2

 

Week 3 (Sept. 6)

 

TOPIC 3: CRISIS & CHANGE, 1675-1720 (part 1)

            -Ayers, Chapt. 3, only up to p. 74

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 4, 5

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 3

 

Week 4 (Sept. 13)

 

TOPIC 4: expansion of colonial british america, 1720-1763

            -Ayers, Chapt. 4

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 6

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. NONE

 

Week 5 (Sept. 20)—Exam Week

 

TOPIC 5: WARS FOR INDEPENDENCE, 1764-1783

            -Ayers, Chapt. 5

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 7

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 4

EXAM 1 for MWF section (Fri. Sept. 24); for TR section (Thurs. Sept. 23)

 

Week 6 (Sept. 27)

 

TOPIC 6: TOWARD A MORE PERFECT UNION, 1783-1788

          -Ayers, Chapt. 6

            -Binder & Reimers, NONE

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 5

 

Week 7 (Oct. 4)

 

TOPIC 7: THE FEDERALIST REPUBLIC, 1789-1799

            -Ayers, Chapt. 7—to page 206 (stop after reading the 1st paragraph under “Foreign Entanglements.”

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. NONE

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 6

 

Week 8 (Oct. 11)

 

TOPIC 8: THE NEW REPUBLIC, 1800-1815

            -Ayers, Chapt. 8—pages 207-214 & Chapt. 8

            -Binder & Reimers, NONE

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 7

 

Week 9 (Oct. 18) ** No class on Oct. 18 and 19 because of Fall Recess

 

TOPIC 9: EXPLODED BOUNDARIES, 1815-1828

            -Ayers, Chapt. 9

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 8

            -Hollitz & Fuller, NONE

 

Week 10 (Oct. 25)

 

TOPIC 10: THE JACKSONIAN ERA & AMERICA’S ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, 1829-1836

            -Ayers, Chapt. 10

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 8 & 9

            -Hollitz & Fuller, NONE

 

Week 11 (Nov. 1)

EXAM 2 (TOPICS 6-10) for MWF section (Mon. Nov. 1); for TR section (Tues. Nov. 2)

 

TOPIC 11: PANIC & BOOM, 1837-1845

            -Ayers, Chapt. 11

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 10

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 9

 

Week 12 (Nov. 8)

 

TOPIC 12: EXPANSION, REACTION, AND ANTEBELLUM CULTURE AND REFORM, 1846-1854

            -Ayers, Chapt. 12

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 12

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 12

 

Week 13 (Nov. 15)

 

TOPIC 13: NORTH & SOUTH COLLIDE, 1855-1861

            -Ayers, Chapt. 13

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 14

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 13

 

Week 14 (Nov. 22) **We WILL meet on Mon. & Tues.  Have a nice Thanksgiving break Wed.-Fri.

 

TOPIC 14: THE DESCENT INTO CIVIL WAR, 1861-1862

            -Ayers, Chapt. 14

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 15

            -Hollitz & Fuller, NONE

 

Week 15 (Nov. 29)

TOPIC 15:  BLOOD & FREEDOM, 1863-1867

            -Ayers, Chapt. 15

            -Binder & Reimers, NONE

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 14

           

Week 16 (Dec. 6)

LAST DATE TO TURN IN FIRST-HAND CRITICAL PAPER IS FRI. DEC. 10, 5PM (ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS…NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED)

 

TOPIC 16: RECONSTRUCTION AND THE NEW SOUTH

-Ayers, Chapt. 16

            -Binder & Reimers, Chapt. 16

            -Hollitz & Fuller, Chapt. 15

 

Course Wrap-up, Prepare for final.

FINAL EXAM IS EXAM 3; FOR MWF SECTION (TUES. DEC. 14, 2-3:30); FOR TR SECTION (TUES. DEC. 14, 4-5:50PM).